Navigating Mental Health Parity Requirements for Travel Benefits

Summary

On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court released Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade. The Dobbs decision has employers scrambling to understand the impact on group health plan coverage. Many employers are considering implementing travel reimbursement options to assist employees who wish to seek abortions that might be restricted by the law in their home states. In a previous alert, we discussed restrictions imposed under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, as amended by the Affordable Care Act (MHPAEA), and how a travel reimbursement program offered under a group health plan that was limited to abortion services might run afoul of MHPAEA requirements.